Biss Declares Victory In Illinois 9th Congressional District

EVANSTON, IL — Democratic nominee Daniel Biss declared victory before 9 p.m. Tuesday in the election for Illinois' 9th Congressional District.

While the Associated Press called the race for Biss shortly after polls closed on Tuesday, Biss didn't make a public statement until just before 9 p.m.

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"I am so proud to be chosen as the next Congressman from the 9th District of Illinois! This win couldn't have been possible without so many amazing people and organizations who worked so hard to make this happen," Biss wrote on his SubStack.

In an email statement to Patch, Republican candidate John Elleson said he called Biss to congratulate him on the win.

"Someone has to win and someone has to lose; I lost. All parties need to come together for the good of the country," Elleson told Patch. "When you know it's not about you but other people, it's not so bad. I'm for people, and the people in the 9th Congressional District have spoken."

Elleson said he spent the remainder of the evening visiting people in Chicagoland hospitals.

Biss will succeed Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who held the office for more than 25 years. Schakowsky, who announced her retirement last spring, endorsed Biss as her successor in January.

As of 9:15 p.m., Biss was leading by an incredibly large margin with 130,229 total votes and counting. Elleson was far behind with 34,173 votes.

Election results in Lake County have not been released yet.

Before running for Congress, Biss served as Mayor of Evanston since 2021. Before becoming mayor, he served in the Illinois State Senate from 2013 to 2019 and in the Illinois House from 2011 to 2013.

In his career as a politician, he has been outspoken on a variety of issues, including opposing President Donald Trump and fighting immigration enforcement in the Chicagoland. During his time as Evanston mayor and leading up to the March Primary Election, Biss protested at the Broadview ICE holding facility. While protesting at Broadview, Biss and others were tear-gassed by federal authorities.

Biss ran on a platform of funding public schools, standing up to corporate power and ensuring residents have access to affordable healthcare.

As Congressman, Biss said he would back the No Kings Act, support legislation aimed at stopping the illegal withholding of funds, reestablish Congress's authority over unilateral tariffs and ban any president from violating constitutional rights through deportation practices.

Biss will take office at noon on January 3.

Find all of Illinois Patch's 2026 election coverage here.